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Danshen

Danshen is the dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza, a plant used in Chinese medicine whose compounds appear to affect blood vessels and platelets. People mostly look at it for heart health, and trials of a danshen formula found fewer angina episodes and better ECG readings alongside standard care, with moderate evidence. Those studies had methodological limits, though, and most other danshen research is animal or lab work.

Sources: PMID 11367667; PMID 15250206

Best evidence
Grade B
Conditions studied
5
Outcomes
9
Graded outcomes
0126

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

5 conditions, plus general outcomes

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular Disease: outcomes studied for Danshen
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Angina Symptoms

Multiple Chinese clinical trials of Compound Danshen Dripping Pills report reduced angina frequency and improved ECG findings when used as adjunct therapy. Study quality is generally moderate, and most evidence comes from Chinese-language literature with methodological limitations.

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect2 studies1,500 people

Studies that measured angina symptoms

Cardiovascular Health

Cardiovascular Health: outcomes studied for Danshen
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Antiplatelet Activity

Human pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies confirm that danshen compounds potentiate the effects of antiplatelet agents including clopidogrel and aspirin. A rat study (PMID:30710735) demonstrated altered pharmacokinetics of dual antiplatelet therapy. This effect is both potentially therapeutic and a significant drug interaction safety concern, particularly with warfarin.

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect1 study100 people

Studies that measured antiplatelet activity

General

  • Stroke Recovery: improves
  • Cancer Cell Proliferation: changes; see studies
  • Seizure Susceptibility: changes; see studies
General: outcomes studied for Danshen
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Stroke Recovery

Some Chinese clinical trials suggest danshen as adjunct therapy may improve functional recovery after ischemic stroke. Animal models demonstrate neuroprotective effects of tanshinone compounds. Trial quality is variable, and most evidence comes from Chinese-language literature with limited methodological rigor.

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect400 people
Cancer Cell Proliferation

Tanshinone I inhibited cervical cancer cell metastasis by inducing mitophagy and reprogramming mitochondrial metabolism in vitro (PMID:35124382). A review of Salvia miltiorrhiza in cancer suggests potential roles in regulating microRNAs and epigenetic enzymes (PMID:36172186). All evidence is preclinical; no human cancer trials exist.

Changes; see studiesSmall effect2 studies

Studies that measured cancer cell proliferation

Seizure Susceptibility

Tanshinone IIA demonstrated anticonvulsant activity in both zebrafish and mouse seizure models (PMID:23937066). No human clinical trials have been conducted for epilepsy or seizure disorders.

Changes; see studiesSmall effect1 study

Studies that measured seizure susceptibility

Immune Function

A preclinical study demonstrated that Salvia miltiorrhiza root extract alleviated cold-induced immunosuppression in an animal model (PMID:39273376). No human trials have evaluated danshen for immunomodulatory effects.

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect1 study

Studies that measured immune function

Atherosclerosis

  • Atherosclerosis Progression: changes; see studies
Atherosclerosis: outcomes studied for Danshen
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Atherosclerosis Progression

In preclinical models, danshen compounds reduce oxidized LDL and inhibit smooth muscle cell hyperplasia after vascular injury (PMID:11367667). Magnesium lithospermate B protects human aortic endothelial cells from free radical damage in vitro (PMID:15250206). Human translation of these anti-atherogenic effects has not been established.

Changes; see studiesSmall effect2 studies

Studies that measured atherosclerosis progression

Bone Health

  • Bone Mineral Density: improves
Bone Health: outcomes studied for Danshen
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Bone Mineral Density

A review of preclinical evidence (PMID:25109459) identifies Salvia miltiorrhiza as a source of compounds with anti-osteoporotic potential in animal models. One clinical study using point injection of red sage root extract reported improved hip joint function in patients with ischemic femoral head necrosis (PMID:19526810). Oral supplementation data in humans is lacking.

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect2 studies50 people

Studies that measured bone mineral density

Acute Kidney Injury

  • Kidney Injury Risk: improves
Acute Kidney Injury: outcomes studied for Danshen
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Kidney Injury Risk

In a rat model, tanshinone IIA attenuated contrast-induced nephropathy via Nrf2 antioxidant pathway activation (PMID:29763899). A network pharmacology study with experimental validation explored mechanisms of the danshen-containing formula Shenkang in chronic kidney disease (PMID:31386888). Human clinical data for renal protection is absent.

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect2 studies

Studies that measured kidney injury risk

Key findings

  • Angina SymptomsCardiovascular DiseaseImproves (the measure goes down)
  • Antiplatelet ActivityCardiovascular HealthImproves (the measure goes up)
  • Stroke RecoveryImproves (the measure goes up)

Safety notes in the studies

  • This effect is both potentially therapeutic and a significant drug interaction safety concern, particularly with warfarin.

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Third-party tested Danshen products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.

  • Grade B

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Studies cited

11 studies from PubMed

  1. Therapeutic Potential of Salvia miltiorrhiza Root Extract in Alleviating Cold-Induced ImmunosuppressionInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024 · PMID 39273376
  2. Tanshinone I inhibits metastasis of cervical cancer cells by inducing BNIP3/NIX-mediated mitophagy and reprogramming mitochondrial metabolismPhytomedicine, 2022 · PMID 35124382
  3. Salvia miltiorrhiza in cancer: Potential role in regulating MicroRNAs and epigenetic enzymesFrontiers in Pharmacology, 2022 · PMID 36172186
  4. Prediction of the mechanisms of action of Shenkang in chronic kidney disease: A network pharmacology study and experimental validationJournal of Ethnopharmacology, 2020 · PMID 31386888
  5. Impact of the Chinese herbal medicines on dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin: Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics outcomes and related mechanisms in ratsJournal of Ethnopharmacology, 2019 · PMID 30710735
  6. Tanshinone IIA Attenuates Contrast-Induced Nephropathy via Nrf2 Activation in RatsCellular Physiology and Biochemistry, 2018 · PMID 29763899
  7. Salvia miltiorrhiza: an ancient Chinese herbal medicine as a source for anti-osteoporotic drugsJournal of Ethnopharmacology, 2014 · PMID 25109459
  8. Tanshinone IIA exhibits anticonvulsant activity in zebrafish and mouse seizure modelsACS Chemical Neuroscience, 2013 · PMID 23937066
  9. Effect of point injection of red-sage-root on the hip joint function in ischemic femoral head necrosis patientsZhen Ci Yan Jiu, 2009 · PMID 19526810
  10. Effect of magnesium lithospermate B on endothelial cells in human aorta after free radical injuryZhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi, 2004 · PMID 15250206
  11. Experimental study of hirudo and Salvia miltiorrhiza on smooth muscle cell hyperplasia after balloon angioplastyZhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi, 1998 · PMID 11367667